Band 4.5 IELTS Writing Task 1 Model Answer

Overall Band Score: 4.5 · Cambridge IELTS 19 · 2026-10-20

IELTS Writing Task 1 question

The plans below show a harbour in 2000 and how it looks today.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.

 

 

Student answer (Band 4.5)

The two diagram illustrates showing a Porth Harbour ( in 2000) a first diagram and today Porth Hoarbour showing in second diagram. I explain all side west, north, east, south.

The Porth Harbour (in 2000) start a main road and enter porth harbour firstly show a car parking and show two enters for porth harbour in 2000 and park a car and go for a Marina private yachts and I see a Fishing boats and walkind track for porth harbour and pay for a tickets for life boats and enjoy for a beach views. I see a Castle disused for back a public beach the veiws very amazing for porth harbour in 2000.

I see for Porth Harbour in today I"m very shock for see a new changings for porth harbour I see car parking change for lock and entering a new facilities for people personaly go for a families I see a showers and toilets, these very helpful because I see cafe's and new private beach changing Fishing boats pessenger ferries , and new two dock and upgrade a life boats. I'm very shock for I see a new big change for porth harbour I new hotel and show all views for beach.

The conclusion, all off good butt my apportunity for construction play ground behined a beach and enjoy for games.

AI examiner evaluation

CriterionBand
Task Achievement / Task Response4.5
Coherence and Cohesion5.0
Lexical Resource4.5
Grammatical Range and Accuracy4.0
Overall4.5

Task Achievement / Task Response: Band 4.5

You identify the two time periods and mention several relevant features, including the marina, fishing boats, lifeboats, beaches and the hotel. However, the response does not clearly summarise the main changes or give a reliable overview. Some details are inaccurate or unclear: the marina and fishing-boat areas switch locations, but this is not explained accurately; the northern dock gains an additional jetty and has two boats, rather than simply being described as “new two dock.” The claim that car parking “change for lock” is not supported by the plans. Personal reactions and suggestions, such as being “very shock” and adding a playground, do not answer the map-summary task. Focus on the key before-and-after changes and describe them objectively and precisely.

Coherence and Cohesion: Band 5.0

The response has separate paragraphs for the 2000 plan and the present-day plan, so there is some basic organisation. However, the information within them is difficult to follow, and there is no clear overview that guides the reader through the main changes. Repeated openings such as “I see” and “I’m very shock” make the account feel like a personal narrative rather than a structured comparison. Connections between features are also unclear—for example, the sentence listing the beach, fishing boats and passenger ferries does not show how these relate to one another. Use an overview followed by logically grouped details, and link changes with clear comparisons such as “whereas” or “in contrast.”

Lexical Resource: Band 4.5

You use some relevant map vocabulary, including “main road,” “private yachts,” “public beach,” “lifeboats” and “hotel,” which helps identify features. However, the range is basic and repetitive, and several word choices or spellings make the meaning difficult to understand. Phrases such as “two enters,” “walkind track,” “pay for a tickets for life boats” and “change for lock” are unclear or do not match the map. Expressions such as “very amazing” and “very shock” are also unsuitable for an objective report. Build a bank of accurate location and change vocabulary, including “relocated,” “replaced by,” “adjacent to” and “converted into,” and check spelling and collocations before finishing.

Grammatical Range and Accuracy: Band 4.0

There are frequent errors in basic sentence construction, and they sometimes obscure the intended meaning. For example, “The two diagram illustrates showing” combines incompatible verb forms, while “The Porth Harbour (in 2000) start a main road” has incorrect tense and sentence structure. Agreement and articles are also unreliable, as in “these very helpful” and “a Castle disused.” Most sentences rely on simple clauses joined by “and,” with little accurate control of more varied structures. Practise writing clear present- and past-tense descriptions, checking subject–verb agreement and articles, and separating ideas into complete sentences. A model pattern such as “In 2000, the marina was in the northern basin, but it has since moved south” would help.

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